GARDEN CITY – A Garden City physician assistant has been permanently banned from providing medical services in Kansas, according to a media release from Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Under the terms of a consent judgment approved today by Judge Michael Quint in Finney County District Court, Joel Erskin, who is part owner and operator of Renovo Medical LLC, and University Medical LLC, is permanently banned from engaging in any medical consumer transactions, providing any medical services or being employed by a provider of medical services. As part of the agreement, Erskin was also required to pay investigative fees, refund all payments received from consumers after June 1, 2016, and forgive or cancel accounts receivable as of June 1, 2016.

Schmidt filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Erskin in June 2016 after a lengthy investigation of the defendant’s business practices conducted by federal authorities and the attorney general’s office. The lawsuit alleged the defendant violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act by failing to tell customers he used Botox purchased from overseas suppliers that was not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States, misrepresenting to patients that he was a medical doctor and operating without the appropriate physician supervision required by Kansas law. The consent judgment references court filings in a separate federal criminal case in which Erskin pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor related to the same conduct.

A copy of the consent judgment is available here.

GEARY COUNTY – A semi driver was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. on Wednesday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 semi pulling a flatbed full of concrete powder and driven  by Matthew Weah, 40, Kansas City, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of the U.S. 77.

The driver lost control of the truck. It entered the center median, overturned and the trailer separated from the truck.

Weah was transported to Geary Community Hospital.

He was wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

TOPEKA -To enable charitable groups to better leverage the fund-raising potential of selling fireworks leading up to the upcoming Independence Day holiday, the Office of the State Fire Marshal has issued a policy statement which permits organizations to sell fireworks without requiring them to operate their own fireworks stand, according to a media release.

Until now, in order for an organization to generate fund-raising revenue through fireworks sales, they were required to operate a licensed fireworks stand.

This requirement prevented many organizations from selling fireworks because of the cost and manpower requirements of operating a fireworks stand.

As of Wednesday, organizations can now sell fireworks as a fundraiser as long as the delivery of fireworks to the purchaser occurs during the retail fireworks season of June 27 through July 5 as established by K.A.R. 22-6-5.

The full “Policy Statement & Interpretation of Law” is available here.

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 440,000 vehicles in North America to fix problems that can cause engine fires and doors to open unexpectedly.

The first recall covers over 230,000 Escape SUVs, Fiesta ST subcompacts, Fusion midsize cars and Transit Connect vans with 1.6-Liter turbocharged engines from 2013 through 2015.

The company says engines can overheat, causing the cylinder head to crack and leak oil that can catch fire. Ford has 29 reports of fires, but no injuries.

Owners can keep driving the vehicles but should go to a dealer if the cars overheat or frequently need coolant.

The company also is adding 211,000 vehicles to a previous recall to replace faulty door latches. That recall covers the 2014 Fiesta and the 2013 and 2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY – Two men died in an accident just before 10p.m. on Tuesday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Lincoln Navigator driven by Troy Elliott Reliford, 34, Lee’s Summit, MO., was westbound on Interstate 70 just east of the 18th Street Expressway in the wrong lane.

The Lincoln hit a 2004 Dodge Ram driven by Tyrone A. Jennings Jr, 30, Kansas City, Kansas.

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.

They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Just before 2a.m., the Kansas Department of Transportation cleared the accident scene and reopened the road.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Sweden’s prime minister says the United Nations and Congo must investigate after three bodies, including those of Swedish and American investigators with the United Nations, were found in central Congo.

Stefan Lofven says he learned with “great sorrow and dismay” that the bodies of Swedish national Zaida Catalan, American Michael Sharp and their interpreter Betu Tshintela were found this week.

Sharp is the son of Hesston Kansas College Bible faculty members John and Michele Sharp.

They went missing March 12 along with driver Isaac Kabuayi and two motorbike drivers while looking into large-scale violence and alleged human rights violations by the Congolese army and local militia groups.

Lofven said Wednesday that Catalan worked “tirelessly for peace and justice,” adding Sweden was “naturally ready to assist” in investigating their death.

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BENI, Congo (AP) — Congolese authorities say the bodies of an American Michael Sharp and a Swedish U.N. expert and their interpreter have been found in the Central Kasai region where they recently disappeared.

Police inspector general Charles Bisengimana said Tuesday the bodies of the two U.N. experts were identified after being found Monday.

Sharp is the son of Hesston Kansas College Bible faculty members John and Michele Sharp.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende says tests confirm the bodies are the experts and their local interpreter.

Sharp, Zaida Catalan of Sweden and interpreter Betu Tshintela disappeared March 12 with their drivers while looking into alleged human rights violations by the army and local militia groups.

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DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Congo’s government says the bodies of two Caucasians and a Congolese have been found in the Central Kasai region where two U.N. experts and their colleagues recently disappeared.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende told Top Congo FM on Tuesday that national police confirmed the discovery of the male and female Caucasians and one Congolese.

The finding raises fears about the two U.N. experts and four Congolese who went missing two weeks ago.

Mende says the government knows no other foreigners missing in the region, but the provincial commissioner still must identify the bodies.

Michael Sharp, the son of Hesston Kansas College Bible faculty members John and Michele Sharp, according to the school’s social media page is among 7 who went missing March 12.

In addition to Sharp, Zaida Catalan of Sweden, interpreter Betu Tshintela, driver Isaac Kabuayi and two motorbike drivers were looking into alleged human rights violations by the army and local militia groups.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a Topeka man charged with driving drunk and killing a woman is being sued.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the wrongful death lawsuit against 33-year-old Jason Patterson alleges negligence.

Patterson is charged with involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol. He also could face an alternative charge of reckless second-degree murder in the Fourth of July death of 60-year-old Tara French. Shawnee County District Court records show the victim’s widower, Rodney French, is seeking more than $75,000.

Patterson is accused of hitting French with a pickup truck as she crossed a street after arguing with another woman over fireworks that had been shot off near Topeka’s Lake Shawnee.

Patterson denied drinking, but police say his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.

ASHLAND, Kan. (AP) — Relief efforts on behalf of Kansas and Oklahoma property owners affected by recent wildfires are getting a lift from country music star and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.

The Wichita Eagle reports Keith has partnered with the Ashland Community Foundation in southern Kansas’ Clark County to record a 50-second public service video asking for a “helping hand” through donations.

The grass fires in early March charred more than 1,000 square miles in Oklahoma and Kansas, destroying miles of fencing on ranches and farms.

The foundation’s board president, Bill Shaw, says Keith’s video plea for donations was posted Monday on the nonprofit’s website and Facebook page.

In his video spot, Keith says, “if you know anything about the people from around here, we don’t stay down.”

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State University is preparing to dedicate its first residence hall to be built in more than 50 years.

The university says in a news release that the public ceremony is planned for Saturday for Wefald Hall. The coeducational residence hall can house up to 540 students and features its own coffee shop.

The building’s one- and two-person rooms feature walk-in closets. There also are study spaces, kitchenettes and lobbies available on each floor. The eight-story residence hall is in the same area as Goodnow and Marlatt halls on the west side of campus.

The hall was named for former Kansas State President Jon Wefald, who served from 1986-2009. Wefald will speak at the ceremony. Other speakers will include U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts and football coach Bill Snyder.

STEVENS COUNTY – A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Stevens County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Chevy Venture driven by James B. Farnham, 28, Johnson, Vehicle 1 was traveling westbound on Stevens County Road Y.

The driver failed to stop at stop sign at the intersection of Kansas 25. The van crashed into the trailer of a southbound semi and caught on fire.

Farnham was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Paul’s Mortuary.
The semi driver William D. Parks, 46, Garden City and a teen passenger were not injured.

The occupants of the semi were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

HUTCHINSON– Two Kansas men arrested a high-speed chase involving a reported stolen vehicle have been formally charged.

Bryson Allen, 22, Hutchinson, is charged with felony flee and elude, possession of stolen property and possession of methamphetamine. 

Corey Drake, 37, is charged with felony interference and possession of marijuana. 

Just after 2:30 p.m. March 18, a Reno County Sheriff Deputy patrolling near Haven spotted a Jeep reported stolen earlier in the day from Hutchinson.

The deputy initiated a traffic stop, but the Jeep sped up and a chase began.

Other deputies laid stop sticks at Yoder and Trailswest Roads. The driver went around the stop sticks but drove

through the ditch and went airborne.

The vehicle continued southwest through a field before it became disabled.

The driver, identified as Allen and his passenger Drake both fled on foot.

They were both quickly apprehended and then complained of minor injuries. They were transported by EMS to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where they were treated and released to deputies who transported them to the Reno County Correctional Facility.

SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating an armed robbery and asking the public for help to find a suspect.

Just after 10a.m., Monday, an employee of a grocery store La Tienda Del Ahorro in the 1700 Block of North Broadway in Wichita went to her car to take a business deposit to the bank, according to Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during Tuesday’s online media briefing.

An armed suspect approached the woman and demanded the bank bag. It contained over $20,000in cash, according to store manager Vicky Guijosa.

 The suspect got into a 2000 Chevy Impala and left the scene.  He is described as a white male in his 30s wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, jeans and a black bandanna.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call police.

LYON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in southeast Kansas are looking for a suspect after a homeowner was injured during a confrontation in their garage.

Just after 5:30a.m. Tuesday, a resident in the 200 block of East K99 in Olpe discovered a person inside his garage and confronted the suspect, according to a social media report.

The suspect was armed with a knife and the victim was cut on the hand.

The suspect fled the scene in a mid-sized dark colored pickup with the tailgate down.
The suspect is described as a white male in his mid-to-late twenties around 5 foot 9 inches to 5 foot 11 inches tall.

The victim was treated at a hospital and released.

The suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.